The Little-Known Campground In Michigan That Will Melt Your Worries Away
By Jack Springgate|Published February 27, 2024
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Jack Springgate
Author
I'm proud to be from the great state of Michigan. I've lived in the Mitten several different times throughout my life spending time in all corners of it. My journeys took me up and down the Lake Michigan coast, out east to explore Detroit and Ann Arbor, and to the dense forests of the UP.
Before writing with Only In Your State, I worked as a local TV news reporter and anchor, most recently in South Bend. Many of the stories I covered took place in Southwest Michigan. My roots are even deeper in the Wolverine State as I often head to Kalamazoo to visit family.
When I'm not out exploring nature, I'm avidly watching sports. I specifically have a deep love for the Michigan Wolverines (my alma mater), and I get to write about them and several other Big Ten teams as and editor for Athlon Sports. I also love to enjoy the great outdoors with my wife and our dog, Piper.
I'm excited to share all my favorite Michigan destinations with you. Keep exploring.
It’s possible to see the Northern Lights this year if you live in Michigan. Still, the conditions will need to be perfect for you to catch a glimpse. One of the best ways to put yourself in a position to see them is by booking a stay at a remote campground this summer. There are several on our list of The 22 Best Campgrounds in Michigan, but you’ll find my favorite in Munising, Michigan.
Bay Furnace Campground is nestled between Furnace Lake and Lake Superior, creating spectacular sunsets and sunrises that will melt your worries away.
Bay Furnace Campground is located roughly five miles from Munising, Michigan. This coastal area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is home to pristine wilderness unlike anywhere else on the Great Lakes.
Lakeshore areas also serve as great cover to see the Northern Lights. The vast surface of the lake creates a desert where light pollution cannot exist. With few bright lights in this rural community, there isn’t much light pollution to speak of.
There are 50 camping spots available at Bay Furnace Campgrounds. Explorers can rent with plans for tent camping, or RVing.
Not only does it sit along the Upper Peninsula’s northern lakeshore, but it’s also on the northern edge of Hiawatha National Forest. This means you're never too far from some incredible hiking in one of the remote parts of the country.
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You can catch some incredible fish off the beach when you’re this far north. You’ll often find lake trout and salmon biting in Lake Superior.
You can catch even bigger fish by using a boat to reach deeper waters. There isn’t a boat launch at the campgrounds, but there is one if you head into Munising.
You can begin to understand this area’s history and the meaning behind the name ‘Bay Furnace’ by heading on a hike. Their ⅛ mile interpretive trail leads to an old relic right on the water.
This abandoned blast furnace is one of the few remnants of the Northern Michigan Iron Age. This was used to smelt iron ore into ‘pig iron’ up until the 1870s. An economic downturn and a drop in the price of iron eventually made these structures obsolete.
I can’t imagine a better way to spend a summer day than by filling my grill up with charcoal and lining it with burgers from dust until dawn. There are several spots to cook out even if you don’t bring your own equipment.
Don’t forget about jaw-dropping views. Visitors love this spot because you can wake up to a sunrise while also ending the day with a sunset. There are few places on our list of Best Campgrounds in Michigan that offer the opportunity to do both.
This is the type of place that sits in the back of your mind while you’re at work. These sights will play like a screensaver in your head as you wait for the clock to hit 5:00 p.m. Sign me up.
Camping at Bay Furnace Campground is only available between May 15 and October 8. Even though this isn’t an extremely well-known hidden gem, it can still fill up during the warmer months. The best way to reserve your spot is by heading to the campground reservations website.
I love how this campsite provides the perfect conditions to try and catch the Northern Lights. Site fees only come to $24. There are several other campsites with dark night skies on our list of The 22 Best Campgrounds in Michigan as well.
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